Propulsion system having means dedicated for driving accessories in a boat

Abstract

A propulsion system and method for driving one or more accessories in an outdrive of a boat having an engine coupled to a drive shaft to supply torque thereto are provided. The torque received by the drive shaft is principally used to propel the boat. The propulsion system includes a driven shaft dedicated to drive the one or more accessories, and further includes a gear assembly for passing a portion of the torque received by the drive shaft to the driven shaft so that each of the one or more accessories coupled to the driven shaft receives driving torque therefrom.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A propulsion system for a watercraft, said propulsion system comprising: 
       an engine;  
       a drive shaft for carrying torque supplied thereto by the engine, the torque carried by the drive shaft being principally used to propel the watercraft;  
       a driven shaft dedicated to drive a plurality of accessories coupled thereto;  
       a gear assembly for passing a portion of the torque carried by the drive shaft to the driven shaft, the torque portion passed by the gear assembly to the driven shaft being sufficient to drive the plurality of accessories coupled thereto;  
       wherein the plurality of accessories includes at least one of a lubrication pump, a power steering pump, and a water pump; and  
       wherein the plurality of accessories are in fluid communication with the reservoir of fluid, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of accessories is disposed in a reservoir of fluid.  
     
     
       2. The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein the gear assembly further comprises a driving gear mounted on the drive shaft and a corresponding driven gear mounted on the driven shaft. 
     
     
       3. The propulsion system of  claim 2  further comprising a bearing assembly mounted onto the drive unit for supporting the driven gear mounted on the driven shaft. 
     
     
       4. The propulsion system of  claim 3  wherein the bearing assembly provides axial and radial support to the driven gear. 
     
     
       5. The propulsion system of  claim 2  wherein the gear assembly further comprises a driving gear integrally constructed with the drive shaft and a corresponding driven gear integrally constructed with the driven shaft. 
     
     
       6. The propulsion system of  claim 5  further comprising a bearing assembly for supporting the driven gear integrally constructed with the driven shaft. 
     
     
       7. The propulsion system of  claim 6  wherein the bearing assembly provides axial and radial support to the driven gear. 
     
     
       8. The propulsion system of  claim 2  wherein the driven shaft has opposite ends and the gear assembly is situated intermediate relative to the opposite ends of the driven shaft. 
     
     
       9. The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein the gear assembly comprises a driving gear and a corresponding driven gear and wherein each of said gears is selected from the group consisting of helical and bevel gears. 
     
     
       10. The propulsion system of  claim 5  wherein the gear assembly includes a bearing assembly for radially supporting the driven shaft at its opposite ends. 
     
     
       11. The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of accessories includes a water pump and wherein the water pump comprises an impeller coupled to drive a flexible vane. 
     
     
       12. The propulsion system of  claim 1  further comprising a hydraulic pump and wherein the plurality of accessories includes a lubrication pump and wherein the lubrication pump and the hydraulic pump comprise respective gear pumps. 
     
     
       13. The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of accessories includes a lubrication pump and wherein the lubrication pump is coupled to supply fluid to a transmission in a drive unit of the propulsion system. 
     
     
       14. The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of accessories includes a power steering pump and a lubrication pump and wherein fluid pumped by the power steering pump and the lubrication pump comprises hydraulic fluid. 
         15 .The propulsion system of  claim 1  wherein the propulsion system is a stern drive. 
     
     
       16. A method for driving a plurality of accessories in an outdrive of a boat having all engine coupled to a drive shaft to supply torque thereto, the torque received by the drive shaft being principally used to propel the boat, said method comprising the steps of: 
       providing an auxiliary shaft dedicated to drive the plurality of accessories, the plurality of accessories including a lubrication pump, a power steering pump, and a water pump;  
       passing a portion of the torque received by the drive shaft to the auxiliary shaft through a gear assembly to provide driving torque to the plurality of accessories coupled to the auxiliary shaft;  
       arranging the power steering pump in a reservoir of fluid; and  
       providing fluid communication between the lubrication pump, the power steering pump, and the reservoir of fluid.  
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the auxiliary shaft has opposite ends and further comprising a step of positioning the gear assembly generally intermediate relative to the opposite ends of the auxiliary shaft. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further comprising radially supporting the auxiliary shaft at its opposite ends. 
     
     
       19. A propulsion system for a watercraft, the propulsion system comprising: 
       an engine;  
       a drive shaft for carrying torque supplied thereto by the engine, the torque carried by the drive shaft being principally used to propel the watercraft; and  
       a gear assembly for passing a portion or the torque carried by the drive shaft to a driven shaft having opposite ends to drive at least one accessory at each end, the driven shaft being driven by the drive shaft at a point between the opposite ends; and  
       wherein the driven shaft is dedicated to drive a plurality of accessories and is coupled to the gear assembly to transmit the torque portion passed by the gear assembly to the plurality of accessories, the plurality of accessories including a lubrication pump, a power steering pump, and a water pump; and  
       wherein the power steering pump is disposed in a reservoir of fluid and the lubrication pump and the power steering pump are in fluid communication with the reservoir of fluid.  
     
     
       20. A propulsion system for a watercraft, said propulsion system comprising: 
       an engine;  
       a drive shaft for carrying torque supplied thereto by the engine, the torque carried by the drive shaft being principally used to propel the watercraft;  
       a propeller shaft directly mechanically coupled to an outdrive shaft;  
       a driven shaft having two drive ends configured to drive one or more accessories coupled thereto; and  
       a gear assembly for passing a portion of the torque carried by the drive shaft to the driven shaft, the torque portion passed by the gear assembly to the driven shaft being sufficient to drive the one or more accessories coupled thereto, the gear assembly comprising a driving gear on the drive shaft and a corresponding driven gear on the driven shaft and wherein the driving gear is integrally constructed with the drive shaft and the corresponding driven gear is integrally constructed with the driven shaft.  
     
     
       21. A propulsion system for a watercraft, said propulsion system comprising: 
       an engine;  
       an outdrive shaft for carrying torque supplied thereto by a drive shaft, the torque carried by the outdrive shale being principally used to propel the watercraft;  
       a propeller shaft directly connected to the outdrive shaft;  
       a driven shaft connected to be driven by the drive shaft from a position other than an end of the driven shall and having one or more accessories coupled thereto and wherein at least one of said one or more accessories comprises a pump for propelling a respective fluid; and  
       a gear assembly for passing a portion of the torque carried by the drive shaft to the driven shaft, the torque portion passed by the gear assembly to the driven shaft being sufficient to drive the one or more accessories coupled thereto.  
     
     
       22. The propulsion system of  claim 21  wherein the one or more accessories are selected from the group consisting of a lubrication pump, a power steering pump, a water pump and an alternator. 
     
     
       23. A propulsion system for a watercraft, said propulsion system comprising: 
       an engine;  
       a drive shaft for carrying torque supplied thereto by the engine the torque carried by the drive shaft being principally used to propel the watercraft;  
       an outdrive shaft mechanically coupled to the drive shaft to translate power to a propeller shaft directly mechanically coupled to the outdrive shaft;  
       a driven shaft dedicated to drive a plurality of accessories coupled thereto and wherein at least one of said plurality of accessories comprises an electrical power generating device; and  
       a gear assembly for passing a portion of the torque carried by the drive shaft to the driven shaft, the torque portion passed by the gear assembly to the driven shaft being sufficient to drive the plurality of accessories coupled thereto.  
     
     
       24. A propulsion system for a watercraft, said propulsion system comprising: 
       an engine;  
       a drive shall for carrying torque supplied thereto by the engine, the torque carried by the drive shaft being principally used to propel the watercraft;  
       an outdrive shaft mechanically coupled to the drive shaft;  
       a propeller shaft directly mechanically coupled to the outdrive shaft;  
       a driven shaft dedicated to drive one or more accessories coupled thereto, the driven shaft having opposite ends;  
       a gear assembly situated intermediate relative to the opposite ends of the driven shaft for passing a portion of the torque carried by the drive shaft to the driven shaft, the torque portion passed by the gear assembly to the driven shaft being sufficient to drive the one or more accessories coupled thereto, the gear assembly comprising a driving gear on the drive shaft and a corresponding driven gear on the driven shaft and wherein the driving gear is integrally constructed with the driven shaft; and  
       a bearing assembly for axially and radially supporting the driven gear on the driven shaft.  
     
     
       25. A propulsion system for driving a plurality of accessories in an outdrive of a boat having an engine, an engine drive shaft coupled to an outdrive shaft to supply torque thereto, and wherein the outdrive shaft is directly coupled a propeller shaft the system comprising: 
       means for passing a portion of the torque received by the drive shaft to an auxiliary shaft dedicated to drive the plurality of accessories through a gear assembly; and  
       means for coupling the plurality of accessories to the auxiliary shaft to receive driving torque therefrom.  
     
     
       26. An outdrive comprising: 
       an upper unit mountable to a gimbal housing;  
       a lower unit connected to the upper unit to translate power to a propeller extending from the lower unit;  
       a housing incorporating the upper unit and the lower unit therein;  
       a mid-section disposed between the upper unit and the lower unit and containing a drive shaft and at least one driven shaft mechanically coupled to the drive shaft such that the at least one driven shaft is in a plane transverse to that of the drive shaft; and  
       a plurality of accessories, each driven by the at least one driven shaft and each located in the plane of the at least one driven shaft and wherein the plurality of accessories are enclosed in the housing of the outdrive.